Disposable weight-reducing suction cup

ABSTRACT

The top ( 6 ) of a disposable weight-reducing suction cup ( 1 ) adapted to be intimately contacted with a weigh-reduction subject portion ( 8 ) is provided with a projection ( 24 ) and a thin-walled portion ( 35 ) disposed in the region of the inner surface of the cup ( 1 ) opposed to the projection ( 24 ). The cup ( 1 ) is intimately contacted with the weight-reduction subject portion ( 8 ), and then it is evacuated for suction by a pressure reducing valve ( 16 ) to dissipate the subcutaneous fat in the weight-reduction subject portion ( 8 ). After suction, this projection ( 24 ) is bent to destruct the thin-walled portion ( 35 ) to form a hole in the top ( 6 ), thereby equalizing the pressure in the cup with the outside pressure. This allows easy removal of the cup ( 1 ) from the weight-reduction subject portion ( 8 ). The absence of a complicated reduced pressure releasing mechanism results in an inexpensive disposable weight-reducing suction cup. Further, the barrel ( 4 ) of the weight-reducing suction cup ( 1 ) to be intimately contacted with the weight-reduction subject portion ( 8 ) is provided with a deformable portion ( 25 ) composed of a recess ( 20 ) and a thin-walled portion ( 18 ). The deformable portion ( 25 ) serves as a pressing portion adapted to be easily inwardly deformed and crushed when the interior ( 42 ) of the cup ( 1 ) is evacuated, and to laterally press the weight-reduction subject portion ( 8 ) to effectively dissipate subcutaneous fat.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a suction cup for slimming to reducesubcutaneous fat in a part of the body to be slimmed down, or to removecongestion in an affected part, and particularly relates to a disposablesuction cup for slimming.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY

There is known a cupping treatment method for removing congestion,comprising the following steps. First, an opening of a suction cupcalled a sucker or a cupping glass is closely applied to an affectedpart. Then, the congestion inside the affected part is led to thesurface by suctioning the affected area by depressurizing the interiorof said cup. The depressurizing of the interior of the cup may beaccomplished by a suction pump or the like, or by burning alcohol or thelike in the cup. The congestion in the affected part is removed by theexcretory process of blood vessels in the superficial part.

Further, a beauty regimen for slimming has been proposed utilizing thecupping treatment method. The opening of the cup is closely applied to apart of the body having a large amount of subcutaneous fat. The excesssubcutaneous fat is dissipated and lost by suctioning the part of thebody to be slimmed down.

However, the conventionally used cups are expensive. This is because aspecialized check valve having a valve to relieve the depressurizedstate has to be installed, to remove the cups from a part of the body tobe slimmed down after use.

In addition, a method with as much effect as possible is always desiredfor a beauty regimen for slimming, or for removing congestion in anaffected part. A more effective method is also desired for such cases inwhich the cupping treatment is applied to a beauty regimen for slimmingor to the treatment of an affected area.

In view of the situation described above, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide an inexpensive disposable suction cup for slimming,in which the depressurized state can be easily relieved after use.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide adisposable suction cup for slimming with which a better slimming effectcan be expected.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A suction cup for slimming of the present invention comprises: anopening end to be closely applied to a part of the body to be slimmeddown; and is constructed so that a part of the body to be slimmed downis suctioned by the depressurization of the interior of the suction cup;wherein a portion of the surface of the suction cup is broken by abending operation after suction, thereby relieving the depressurizationof the interior thereof, and enabling removal of the suction cup fromthe part of the body to be slimmed down.

Said portion to be broken may comprise: a projection formed on the outersurface of a suction cup; and a thin-walled portion which is formed inthe suction cup near the base of the projection, to be broken by bendingthe projection.

Moreover, the suction cup for slimming may include a deforming partwhich is deformed and flattened by depressurization, as well as apressing part for pressing a part of the body to be slimmed down that issuctioned into the suction cup when the suction cup is deformed,provided at the inner surface thereof.

Furthermore, said deforming part may be constructed to be the pressingpart, which is deformed inward when the pressure is reduced. Thedeformed part may press the part of the body to be slimmed down that issuctioned into the suction cup.

In addition, the pressing part can also be a projection that is formedon the inner surface of the suction cup.

According to the disposable suction cup for slimming of the presentinvention, a part to be broken is provided on the outer surface of thesuction cup. This part to be broken is constructed so that thedepressurization of the interior of the suction cup can be relieved bybreaking the part to be broken by bending, after suctioning. Thereby,the suction cup can be removed from a part of the body to be slimmeddown. Therefore a disposable suction cup for slimming is provided, whichcan be easily relieved of its depressurization, be directly disposed ofand in addition, is inexpensive.

In a case in which said part to be broken comprises a projection formedon the outer surface of the suction cup and the thin-walled part of thecup which is to be broken by bending the projection, the operation torelieve depressurization can be performed extremely easily because theair pressures inside and outside the cup can be evened out simply bybending the projection. Moreover, the disposable suction cup forslimming can be inexpensive because it does not have a complicatedsystem to relieve depressurization.

Further, in a case in which a suction cup for slimming has a deformingpart which is to be deformed and flattened by depressurization as wellas a pressing part inside it to press a part of the body to be slimmeddown that is suctioned into it when it is deformed, excess subcutaneousfat in a part of the body to be slimmed down can be dissipated andeffectively removed. In addition, there are effects to remove congestioninside the affected part and eliminate stiffness in the shoulder and thelike, by pressing a part of the body to be slimmed down with thepressing part.

Further, in a case in which a deforming part is constructed to deforminward when the pressure is reduced and the inwardly deformed part is tobe the pressing part which presses a part of the body to be slimmed downthat is suctioned, the structure of the cup can be simplified becausethere is no need to make an additional pressing part.

Moreover, in a case in which the pressing part is a projection that isformed on the inner surface of the suction cup, excess subcutaneous fatin a part of the body to be slimmed down can be dissipated and lost, andcongestion in an affected part can be removed more effectively, bypressing the projection against a part of the body to be slimmed down.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view which shows the first embodimentof the disposable suction cup for slimming of the present invention.

FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 2C show partial cross sections of the top ofa disposable suction cup for slimming which shows a check valve; whereinFIG. 2A displays the check valve shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2B displays thecheck valve of an alternate construction, and FIG. 2C displays the checkvalve of another alternate construction, respectively.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B show projections to relieve depressurization;wherein FIG. 3A is the partial cross section of the top with aprojection shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B is the partial cross section ofthe top that shows an alternate construction.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the disposable suction cup for slimming of thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the disposable suction cup for slimming of FIG.4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the disposable suction cup for slimmingof FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the disposable cup of FIG. 4 inuse.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of a disposable suction cup for slimmingaccording to an alternate construction, which has grooves in threeplaces.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view which shows a third embodimentof the disposable suction cup for slimming of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view showing the disposable suction cup forslimming of the third embodiment in use.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view which shows a disposable suction cupfor slimming of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view which shows a disposable suction cupfor slimming of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view which shows the disposable suction cupfor slimming of FIG. 12 in use.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are describedin detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinalsectional view which shows the first embodiment of the disposablesuction cup for slimming (in the following simply referred to as “cup”)of the present invention. This cup 1 is made of resin, and has abell-shaped, comparatively hard cup main body 3 with a round opening 2at the bottom. The cup main body 3 has a cylindrical body 4 and aspherical top 6 which closes the upper part of the body 4. A flange 10,to be applied to a portion of the body to be slimmed down 8 to dissipatesubcutaneous fat, is formed in the periphery of the opening 2 of the cup1. A pipe 14, to connect an external hose (not shown in the figure) andthe like for depressurization, is integrally formed on the top 6. Asuction aperture 12, for depressurizing the interior of the cup 1 isformed through the pipe 14.

A check valve 16 is formed in this suction aperture 12 so that air doesnot flow back into the depressurized interior of the cup 1. Thedepressurized state inside the cup main body 3 is maintained by thecheck valve 16, even if connecting devices such as a hose is removedfrom the pipe 14 after the interior 42 of the cup main body 3 isdepressurized with a suction pump (not shown in the figure). Therefore,it is possible to place one cup 1 on each of a plurality of parts of thebody to be slimmed down 8, and to depressurize and set up these cups 1,connecting and releasing in turn hoses connected to a single suctionpump. The detailed structure of the check valve 16 will be describedlater.

Moreover, near the pipe 14, a projection (the part to be broken) 24protrudes from the top 6, formed integrally therewith. This projection24 is provided to relieve depressurization by bending it and breakingthe thin-walled part (the part to be broken) 35 of the top 6. Thedetailed structure of the projection 24 and the thin walled part 35 willbe described later.

Next, the structure of the check valve 16 will be described in detailwith reference to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 2C. FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, andFIG. 2C show partial cross sections of the top 6 showing the check valve16, wherein FIG. 2A displays the check valve 16 shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2Bdisplays the check valve of an alternate construction, and FIG. 2Cdisplays the check valve of another alternate construction,respectively. As shown in FIG. 2A, a partition 26 with an eyelet 12 a isformed inside the pipe 14. A discoid valve element 16 a is mounted abovethis partition 26. One end of this valve element 16 a is fixed to thepartition 26, and it can move as shown by the arrow 28 between a closedposition, in which it is flush against the partition 26, therebyshutting off the eyelet 12 a when the pressure is reduced, and an openposition, in which the interior air can pass through to the exterior asshown in FIG. 2A during suction. Threads 32 are formed at the tip of thepipe 14, and a rim 30 is screwed onto these threads 32 to protect thevalve element 16 a. A tube or a hose that is not shown in the figure isusually fixed to the periphery of the pipe 14, and it is constructed tobe connected to a suction instrument to depressurize the air of theinterior 42 of the cup 1. The detailed description of this constructionis abbreviated because any known method can be applied to it.

Next, the check valve 17 of an alternate construction shown in FIG. 2Bwill be described. It is different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 2Ain the point that the valve element 17 a is discoid like in FIG. 2A butit is placed to move freely between the partition 26 and the rim 30.This valve element 17 a floats when the air of the interior 42 issuctioned, and the airway is secured as shown in FIG. 2B by the arrow19. When suctioning is stopped and the hose is pulled out, the valveelement 17 a becomes flush against the partition 26 because the interior42 is depressurized, and maintains the depressurized state of theinterior 42.

Next, another alternate construction shown in FIG. 2C will be described.In this embodiment, a conical projection 31 with an outwardly facingconcave part 33 is formed integrally with the top 6. The interior of theconcave part 33 has annular tiers 33 a and 33 b, and communicates withan aperture 37. An annular groove 39 is formed in the periphery of thetier 33 b. A discoid valve element 41 made of a comparatively flexiblesponge resin is placed on the tier 33 b. A discoid lid 45 having anaperture 43 is press fit into an inner wall surface 33 c of the concavepart 33, and fixed on the tier 33 a. During suction, the valve element41 moves slightly upward to secure an airway as shown by the arrow 46.After the interior 42 is depressurized, as the hose that is not shown inthe figure is pulled out, the valve element 41 is pressed against thetier 33 b, and the depressurized state of the interior 42 is maintained.

Next, the projection 24 for relieving depressurization will be describedwith reference to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. FIG. 3A is a partial crosssection of the top 6 with the projection 24 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3B isthe partial cross section of the top 6 that shows an alternateconstruction. As shown in FIG. 3A, in the top 6 in which the projection24 is formed, a round concave part 34 is formed on the rear surfacecorresponding to the base of the projection 24. The thickness of the top6 at the bottom is thinner because of that the concave part 34. For thatreason, when the projection 24 is pushed down to the lateral direction,the thin-walled part 35 is broken, to make an aperture in the top 6, andthe air pressures of the interior and the outside of the cup 1 areevened out. In other words, when the pressure of the interior isreduced, the depressurization is relieved and the cup 1 can be easilyremoved from the part of the body to be slimmed down 8. In addition,FIG. 3B shows the concave part 36 displaced from the projection 24. Inthis case, the thin-walled part 40 will be broken when the projection 24is pressed in the direction of the arrow 38. The concave parts 34 and 36in said embodiments are circular concave parts; however, the concaveparts may be of any other form, including squares and rectangles.

Next, the cup of the second embodiment will be described with referenceto FIG. 4 through FIG. 6. FIG. 4 is a front view of a cup 50 of thesecond embodiment. FIG. 5 is a side view of the cup 50 of FIG. 4; andFIG. 6 shows the bottom plan view of the cup 50 of FIG. 4, respectively.Note that the same parts as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted with thesame reference numbers in the description. The cup 50 has a bell-shapedmain body 53, in the same manner as the cup 1 of the first embodimentdescribed above. An opening end 55 at the bottom, a check valve 16 onthe top 56, and a protruded part or a projection 24 are also formedsimilarly to the first embodiment described above. The points that aredifferent from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are that the mainbody 53 is formed with a thinner material as a whole than the main body3 shown in FIG. 1, and that short grooves 58 are formed in the interiorsurface of the main body 53 at the front and back thereof, extendingfrom the opening end 55 upward. When viewed from the bottom, the grooves58 are located to be opposed across the center of the cup 50, as shownin FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 shows the cup 50 constructed in this manner in use. FIG. 7 is theperspective illustration which shows the cup 50 of FIG. 4 in use. Duringsuction, the left and the right parts of the grooves 58 dent byreceiving force by the air pressure as shown by arrows 60. The part ofthe body to be slimmed down 8 that is suctioned is pressed from bothsides because of the denting of the main body 53, and subcutaneous fatcan be effectively dissipated. In this embodiment also, the cup 50 canbe easily removed by relieving depressurization by bending theprojection 24.

Moreover, the number of the grooves 58 can be increased as shown in FIG.8. FIG. 8 shows a bottom plan view of a cup 70 of an alternateconstruction, in which the grooves 58 are formed in three places. Whenpressure is reduced, the opening end 65 is flattened inward roughly inthe shape of a triangle as shown by broken lines, because the grooves 58are provided in three places. Because of this flattening, the part ofthe body to be slimmed down 8 is pressed from three directions, and theslimming effect is further enhanced. Various modifications and changesare possible regarding the number of the grooves 58, or thecircumferential locations at which the grooves 58 are formed.

Next, a cup of the third embodiment, which is the cup 1 shown in FIG. 1in which a deforming part is formed, will be described with reference toFIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a cup 80 with a deformingpart 25. Note that the same parts as those of the cup 1 shown in FIG. 1are denoted with the same reference numbers in the description. As shownin FIG. 9, deforming parts 25 that are deformed at the time ofdepressurization are formed in a plurality of circumferential locationsin the body 4. Each deforming part 25 comprises a concave part 20 and athin-walled part 18 formed by this concave part 20. The cup 80 flattensat the thin-walled parts 18 when pressure is reduced. The thin-walledparts 18 are made thin by forming said concave parts 20 in the exteriorsurface of the body 4, toward the interior thereof. A groove 22, whichmakes the thin-walled parts 18 thinner to facilitate deformationthereof, is formed in the circumferential direction of the body 4. Thegroove 22 also serves to define the position at which the thin walledportions 18 protrude during deformation thereof.

Next, the manner in which the cup 80 of the third embodiment shown inFIG. 9 is applied to the part of the body to be slimmed down 8 andsuctioned will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is across sectional view which shows the cup 80 of FIG. 9 in use. Note thata tube or a hose to be connected to the pipe 14 when it is suctioned andthe method (instrument) for suctioning are omitted in FIG. 10. As theinterior 42 of the cup 80 is depressurized, the thin-walled parts 18 ofthe deforming parts 25 fold at the part of the groove 22 to be deformedinward, and become pressing parts 44 which protrude into the interior42. The part of the body to be slimmed down 8 that is being suctionedinto the cup 80 due to the depressurization is pressed from the lateraldirection by said pressing parts 44. Because of this pressing, excesssubcutaneous fat in the part of the body to be slimmed down 8 can beeffectively dissipated and lost.

Next, the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view similar toFIG. 1 of a cup 100 with concave parts 120 different from the embodimentshown in FIG. 9. The concave parts 120, or deforming parts, havesubstantially the same thickness as the body 104 of the cup 100.However, the concave parts 120 are dented into the cup 100, that is,toward the interior 142. The concave parts 120 are provided in aplurality of the locations along the circumference of the cup 100. Theconcave parts 120 are flattened by the depressurization of the interior142, and then protrude inward to become pressing parts 144 indicated bythe broken lines. The pressing parts 144 press the part of the body tobe slimmed down 8 to exhibit a slimming effect similar to that exhibitedby the first embodiment.

Next, the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12and 13. FIG. 12 displays a cross section of a cup 150 of the fifthembodiment, and FIG. 13 shows a cross section of the cup 150 in use,similar to FIG. 10, respectively. Note that the parts having the sameconstruction as FIG. 9 are described using the same reference numbers.In this embodiment, in addition to the construction of the cup 80 shownin FIG. 9 described above, a protrusion (projection) 153 which is to bea pressing part to press the part of the body to be slimmed down 8 whenit is suctioned is provided in the interior 42 of the cup. In thisembodiment, the protrusion 153 is made at the top 156. The location ofthe protrusion 153 is not limited to the top 156. For example, aprotrusion denoted by reference number 158 may be provided in the upperpart of the body 154, or a protrusion denoted by reference number 160may be provided in the lower part of the body 154, as indicated by thebroken lines.

Next, the cup 150 of the fifth embodiment in use will be described withreference to FIG. 13. In this embodiment, when the cup 150 isdepressurized, the lateral sides of the part of the body to be slimmeddown 8 is pressed by the pressing parts 44 which are formed by thedeformation of the deforming parts 25. In addition, an upper side 8 a ofthe part of the body to be slimmed down 8 is pressed by the protrusion153. By the doubly applied pressure, subcutaneous fat is pressed and agreater slimming effect and a greater effect to remove congestion in anaffected part can be obtained.

The embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above.However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limitedto the embodiments described above and various changes an modificationsare possible. For example, the shapes of the concave parts 20 and 120can be made with a slope on the body 4 and the body 104, respectively,so that the cups 80 and 100 are twisted when the pressure is reduced toalso give the part of the body to be slimmed down 8 a slimming effect bya twisting effect. Various cases of the size, shape and location of theconcave parts 20 and 120 are possible according to the part of the bodyto be slimmed down 8 to be suctioned. In addition, various combinationsof the concave parts 20 and 120, and the protrusions 153, 158, and 160are possible.

1. A disposable suction cup for slimming, constructed so that a part ofthe body to be slimmed down is suctioned by depressurization of aninterior of the suction cup, comprising: an opening end to be closelyapplied to the part of the body to be slimmed down, wherein a portion ofthe surface of the suction cup is broken by a bending operation aftersuction, thereby relieving the depressurization of the interior thereof,and enabling removal of the suction cup from the part of the body to beslimmed down.
 2. A disposable suction cup for slimming as defined inclaim 1, wherein said portion to be broken comprises: a projectionformed on the outer surface of a suction cup; and a thin-walled portionwhich is formed in the suction cup near the base of the projection, tobe broken by bending the projection.
 3. A disposable suction cup forslimming as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a deforming partwhich is deformed and flattened by depressurization; and a pressing partfor pressing the part of the body to be slimmed down which is suctionedinto the suction cup when the suction cup is deformed, provided at theinner surface thereof.
 4. A disposable suction cup for slimming asdefined in claim 3, wherein said deforming part is constructed to be thepressing part, which is deformed inward during depressurization to pressthe part of the body to be slimmed down which is suctioned into thesuction cup.
 5. A disposable suction cup for slimming as defined inclaim 3, wherein the pressing part comprises a projection that is formedon the inner surface of the suction cup.
 6. A disposable suction cup forslimming as defined in claim 2, further comprising: a deforming partwhich is deformed and flattened by depressurization; and a pressing partfor pressing the part of the body to be slimmed down which is suctionedinto the suction cup when the suction cup is deformed, provided at theinner surface thereof.
 7. A disposable suction cup for slimming asdefined in claim 4, wherein the pressing part comprises a projectionthat is formed on the inner surface of the suction cup.
 8. A disposablesuction cup for slimming as defined in claim 6, wherein said deformingpart is constructed to be the pressing part, which is deformed inwardduring depressurization to press the part of the body to be slimmed downwhich is suctioned into the suction cup.
 9. A disposable suction cup forslimming as defined in claim 6, wherein the pressing part comprises aprojection that is formed on the inner surface of the suction cup.
 10. Adisposable suction cup for slimming as defined in claim 8, wherein thepressing part comprises a projection that is formed on the inner surfaceof the suction cup.